📎 AI Summary:
The user is seeking help with a non-functioning external hard drive that now appears as a RAW drive and prompts for formatting, risking data loss. After attempting disk checks and using TestDisk without success, they express concern about data recovery programs that may alter file organization. An expert recommends using recovery tools like Testdisk or GetDataBack, which can preserve file names during recovery.
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digiman2372

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
28
Thread Author #1
Hello everyone, the USB port on my external harddrive broke, so I bought a SATA adapter. Now, when I plug it in, it tells me that I have to format my harddrive in order to use it. I can't do this obviously because all my important data is on there. I tried restarting my computer, using different USB ports, and even using a different computer. It still keeps saying that I need to format it in order to use it. I tried using Test Disk to restore the partition and it has not been working. I want to stay away from data recovery programs because sometimes they don't recover everything and it's also difficult to tell which file is which. What do I do?
 

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digiman2372

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Mar 5, 2020
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28
Thread Author #3
how do I access the disk check tool? I am using windows 10. would it be called something different in windows 10?
 

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patcooke

patcooke

Microsoft MVP
Microsoft MVP
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5,688
#4
Hold the windows key and press "e" to open windows explorer. Navigate to the drive you want to check, right click on the drive to be checked, click on "properties", select the "tools" tab and click on "check."
 

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digiman2372

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Mar 5, 2020
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Thread Author #5
it says it cannot check because the disk needs to be formatted. I am considering trying a new operating system to see if it works.
 

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digiman2372

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Mar 5, 2020
Messages
28
Thread Author #7
it says "chkdsk cannot work on RAW drives" or something like that. when I check disk management, it dsoes show up as "RAW"
 

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Neemobeer

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
Staff member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
8,995
#8
Sounds like the partition table is corrupt you'll probably need to do as it asks and format the drive. If it contains important data you should be able to run a recovery program and recover the data
 

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digiman2372

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Mar 5, 2020
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Thread Author #9
I was hoping to avoid a recovery program because they usually change the file names and make everything disorganized. Are there any good ones that you recommend?
 

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Neemobeer

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
Staff member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
8,995
#10
Testdisk or getdataback both should keep the names
 

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digiman2372

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
28
Thread Author #11
i tried testdisk before and it doesnt keep the names unfortunately. not that i remember at least. i'll consider getdataback though, thank you!!
 

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